Stroke

A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack,” occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. While a stroke is occurring, it is referred to as the acute phase of a stroke. Brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.

As brain cells die, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are impaired. The impact from a stroke ranges from mild to severe, and can include paralysis and impairments of function such as speech, movement, and memory. Specific abilities lost or affected depend on the location of the stroke in the brain and the amount of damage the stroke caused.

There are two major kinds of stroke. The first, known as an ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks a blood vessel to the brain. Approximately 87 percent of strokes are acute ischemic. The second, known as a hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel in the brain that breaks or ruptures spilling blood into the brain.